Alarm check-valve



L. M. LEWIS.

ALARM CHECK VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1919.

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INVENTOR ZGIJgMZ/T WITNESS ATTORNEYS L. M. LEWIS.

ALARM CHECK VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, I919.

1,385,460. Patented July 26, 1921.

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WITNESS W I ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES LEROY LEWIS, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR .TO ."B. LEWIS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.. I

ALARM CHECK-VALVE.

To all whom it may concern;

Be itknown that I, LEROY M. Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, countyof Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm Check-Valves, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to certain improvements in automatic fire extinguishing systems of the sprinkler type adapted to be in stalled in buildings or similar locations for protection against fires and has reference more particularly to the main check valve combined with an auxiliary valve adapted to control the flow offluid to an alarm controlling mechanism intended to operate an alarm in indication of the opening of one or more of the sprinkler heads of the system upon the occurrence of a fire or similar I cause.

This application is a continuation in part of my Patent No. 1,339,567 dated May 11,

1920, for alarm controlling mechanisms.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an alarmcheck valve which will operate only upon the opening ofa sprinkler head and upon the flow of extinguishing fluid through the valve casing and to provide therewith an auxiliary valve controlling the fiow of fluid to the alarm controlling mechanism.

nother object of my invention is to pivotally. mount the main check valve and the auxiliary valve upon the same-axis in the main easing whereby each may move therein independently of the other but so related that the opening of the main check valve will cause an opening of the auxiliary valve upon the main flow of fluid through the valve casing.

Another object is .to provide the main and auxiliary check valves with means to meet the requirements ofthe Fire Underwriters Laboratories in that the check valve and the auxiliary valve should both be loosely mounted to have independent pivotal movement with the clearance usually required, namely, that of about one sixteenth of an inch of radial clearance between the pivot Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 26', 1921 Application filed October 28, 1919. Serial No. 333,944.

'my invention will more fully appea'rin the following specification and the accompanyin drawing made a part hereof.

Referring to the drawing in whichis illustrated one embodiment of my invention and in which similar reference characters are used to designate the corresponding parts;

Figure l is a view in vertical section of a preferred form of device with the valves in closed position Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the main and auxiliary check valves and the parts connected thereto in top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the valves taken in a plane perpendicular to that of the valves, and,

V Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the auxiliary valve means. 1

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the device illustrated comprises an alarm' check valve structure having a hollow 'provided'a transverse partition 10 of substantially annular form and preferably integral with the casing. The inner marginal portion of'this partition is preferably arranged in a plane slightly inclined with respect to a normal to the longitudinal axis of the body portion 1. The body of the casing also may be provided with a threaded opening 11 through one side of the casing for connection with a drain pipe (not shown).

The casing or body portion 1 is also provided with a laterally extending substantially cylindrical hollow extension 12 preferably integral therewith, the interior of this extension communicating with the chamber of the casing 1 on the outlet side of the main check valve. The outer end of this extension 1s suitably closed by a cover 13 which is suitably secured to the extension 12 as by i bolts'14.

' a comparatively narrow flat bearing edge 18 arranged in a plane also laterally inclined to a normal to the axis of the body or casing 1 and substantially parallel to the planeof the inner marginal portion of the partition 10 and against which edge the flat marginal under surface 16 of the valve 15 engages when the main valve is closed.

For the purpose of supporting the valve 15 with its flat marginal under-surface 16 coincident with the bearing edge 18 of the valve seat, as well as to oscillate with respect to its seat 18 about a fixed axis, the main valve is provided with arms 19, preferably integral therewith, projecting therefrom approximately in a planetherewith and toward the cover 13. The other ends of these arms are enlarged to form substantially cylindrical hearings or hubs 20 which are rotatable andloosely mounted, with a clearance 20, upon a cylindrical pivot pin or shaft 21 extending therethrough the longitudinal axis of which may be coincident with the plane of the bearing edge 18 of the main valve seat 17 and substantially parallel to the plane of the flat end 22 of the extension 12 of the casing. The ends of the pivot pin or shaft 21 may extend and fit into suitable supporting means or bosses that may be located or integrally formed with the side walls of the casing as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. To maintain the pivot pin or shaft 21 in position from longitudinal movement relative to the casing 1 the latter may be provided with threaded openings oppositetheends of the pivot pin or shaft 21 and in which may be threaded the screw plugs 21. These plugs may operate as thrust means for conveniently maintaining the pivot pin or shaft 21 in place but when removed permit the ready insertion and withdrawal of the shaft 21.

The main valve 15 is centrally cupped or depressed toward the inlet as at 23 throughout the'major portion of its area and is provided on its outlet side with a lug 24L, preferably integral therewith, which is adapted to act asa stop for the valve 15 in itscompletely open position. Within the cupped portion is located an abutment projection 25 which extends toward the outlet 3 and which is of utility for a purpose hereinafter more fully disclosed. V

For the purpose of giving an alarm when the main valve 15 swings to open position there is provided an auxiliary valve 26 adapted tooperate with, an auxiliary valve seat'27 preferably in the form of a removable bushing suitably secured in the partition 10 as by screw threads 28 at one side of the valve 15 substantially on a diameter of the main valve 15' lying parallel to the axis of thepivot shaft 21, the purpose of such location of the valve 26 hereinafter more fully appearing. V

The wall of the casing 1 is enlarged at a side thereof as at 29 within which islocatec a transverse bore or passage 30 which ex-- tends to both sides of the casing, the ends of said bore being suitably threaded so that a pipe connection may be made therewith from either sideoof the casing as convenience may dictate, the other end of -the bore being accordingly suitably closed as by a screw plug 30. Communication is had be tween the bore 30 and the port of the auxiliary valve seat 27 by another bore passage 31 suitably cored in the annular portion of the partition 10. p In this fashion communication is had from the chamber of the casing 1, when the auxiliary valve 26 opens, to the exterior of the caslng by way of the passages 31 and 30 and through which a part of the extinguishing fluid is adapted to flow to the alarm controlling mechanism connected'to the bore 30 by means of a pipe or conduit 15. The end of the auxiliary valve seat 27 that is not provided with threads, is exteriorly formed with a truncated cone as at 32 and terminates in a comparatively flat annular surface 33 coaxial with the auxiliary valve 26 when the latter is in position against the seat 27. The valve 26 is in the form of a circular flat disk and is freelv movable in the sleeve 34: so that one of its flat surfaces may be readily engaged against the auxiliary valve seat 27. The sleeve 34; is in the form of a hollow cylinder suitably threaded on its outer surface to be adjustably secured in a cylindrical enlargement 35 integrally provided at the end. I

of the cross arm 36, a lock nut 37 being used to maintain the sleeve in secured position. with an inwardly projecting marginal flange The sleeve is also provided at one end be normally spaced away from the inner 38 adapted to engage against the marginal portion of the inner fiat surface of the auxiliary valve 26 for the purpose of moving the latter from its seat 27 at a predetermined timeafter the start of the opening of the main valve 15, and the other end of said sleeve is provided with an apertured screw plug 39, arranged toprevent the escape of the valve 26 upon its rearward movement from the valve seat 27. The aperture provided within the plug 39 permits the fluid in the chamber of the casing 1 to normally enter the sleeve 34; into contact with the auxiliary valve inorder to seat it or hold it seated against theauxiliary valve seat 27. The exterior end of the plug 39 is also of a shape suitable to receive a tool by which to remove the plug as desired or when necessary. The sleeve 34 may be so adjusted in the enlargement 35 that the jflange 38 may surface of the valve 26 when the latter is seated against the seat 27 when the main valve is in'its closed position, such space providing for a certain amount of lead retarded in a certain time relation'with the opening of the main valve.

As heretofore stated the enlargement 3 is integrally formed at the end of the cross arm 36. This cross arm is normally clisposed transversely and adjacent the central portion of the outlet side of the main check valve 15 in a substantially parallel relation to the axis of the pivot 21' and is provided with a laterally extending abutment 40 V which normally engages or abuts against the lug or abutment 25 on the main valve 15.

- The cross arm is preferably provided with a laterally extending arm 11 the outer end of which is provided with a relatively long bearing member or hub'4c2 suitably fitting, for pivotal action, over the pivot shaft 21 for a suflicient distance to give adequate rigidity to the construction whereby the cross-arm will be maintained in its parallel relation to the axis of the shaft 21 irrespective of the angular movement of the cross arm 36 and its connected parts about such axis. The arms 36 and 41 may be provided with reinforcing webs 36 and 4:1 in giving the device added rigidity.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the construction and arrangement of the parts aresuch that in the operation of the devicethe sleeve 34 surrounding the auxiliaryvalve 26 moves in unison with the main. valve 15 and that the adjusting feature,

providing for a certain amount of lead for the valve 26, permits within prescribed limits, the retardation of opening of the auxiliary valve 26 with respect to the opening of the main valve 15. i- If, however, it bedesired, the sleeve may be adjusted so that both valves may open practically simultaneously. While the sleeve 34 is adjusted to permit the main valve 15 to open slightly in advance of the auxiliary valve 26 the latter is held against its seat by the fluid pressure in the casing, during the initial movement of the main valve'15 until the arms 36 and 4:1, as well as the sleeve 34, be sufficiently moved, by reason of the contact of the abutment projection 25 against the abutment 10 for the purpose of carrying the flange 38-into engagement with the valve 26. A further movement in the same direction of the parts above enumerated coordinately acts to lift the auxiliary valve 26 from its seat 27 and permits the entrance of the fluid from the chamber of the casing 1 int'othe' passages 30 and 31 and the conduit 45 leading to the alarm controlling mechanism connected thereto; When the main valve is in its completely open position the lug 24: engages against the lug 4:3 in the casing.

The parts are so arranged that upon the, removal of the cover or bonnet 13 convenient access may be had to all of the elements or parts contained within the casing so that the same may be conveniently adjusted, removed or replaced as may be desired or found necessary.

It will be noted that in this device the auxiliary valve is located at one side of the main valve 15 and in a line passing transversely, substantially through the center, of the valve and lying parallel to the axis of the shaft 21. This arrangement is followed in order that the opening of the auxiliary valve may beproportionately smaller than the movement of the forward end 44 of the main valve 15 upon the opening thereof. This is an important advantage where conditions exist that tend to temporarily open the main valve, such as water-hammers and other similar effects. In the prior art structures where the auxiliary valve is located at substantially the same distance from vthe axis, about" which it rotates, as the for- 55 I claim as new and desire to effective opening of the main valve.

amount of opening of the main valve. By

also locating the auxiliary valve proximate to but out of the direct path of the main current of the extinguishing fluid through the main valve, the instant of the flow of such fluid to the alarm controlling means, is more accurately timed in relation to the The auxiliary valve is instantly operated at the end of the lead given it so that a greater degree of sensitiveness in operation is obtained in its connection with the alarm controlling mechanism.

In operation the main and auxiliary valves 15 and 26 are normally closed but upon the opening of a sprinkler head caused by a fire or similar condition the main check j casing includlng inlet and outlet passages and a main check valve pivotally supportvalve 15 will completely open and carry with it the auxiliary valve 26 from the port of the passage 31 whereupon a full flow of extinguishing fluid occurs through the casing 1 and a substantial flow of fluid through the passages 30, 31 and 45 to the alarm controlling mechanism. The auxiliary valve may be adjusted so that it will open at a predetermined interval oftime after the beginning of the opening of the main valve so that by the time the main valve is completely opened and the auxiliary check valve is completely raised from its seat the full flow of fluid through the casing 1 will immediately be effective to cause a substantial flow of a portion thereof through the passages above mentioned. If, however, on the other hand the main check valve were to be opened merely temporarily by reason of water-hammers or from other causes similar thereto, such opening would not be sufficient to raise the, auxiliary valve from its seat since the means tending to raise the same would merely operate within the extent of the lead given it by the adjustment previously determined upon so that no fluid would be permitted to flow to the alarm control means.

While I have herein disclosed one embodimentof my invention it is to be understood, however, that the latter is not to be limited to the particular details herein described and illustrated upon ,the accompanying drawing but that the same comprehends any other and all equivalent devices as do not depart from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what 7 freely movable therein, an auxiliary valve secure by Let- 7 seat located insaid casing adjacent to the seat of said main check valve, passages provided within said casing communicating with said auxiliary valve and the exterior of said casing, an arm for said auxiliary valve extending over and contacting with said main check valve, jsaid arm pivotally. mounted'upon the same axis as the main check valve, said auxiliary valve and said auxiliary valve seat being located at a substantially shorter distance from said axis than the outer portion of said main valve 1 ed therein, the combination ofan auxiliary 'valve,means extendmg over said maln valve and connecting said auxiliary valve to the pivot of. said main valve for pivotally supporting'said auxillary valve in saidcasing upon said pivot, an auxiliary valve seat provided in saidcasing and communicating with the exterior thereof, means carriedby said first mentioned means for adjusting said auxiliaryvalve with relation to said seat whereby said auxiliary valve opens at i a predetermined time subsequentlto the start of the opening of said main valve, said 'auxiliary' valve and said auxiliary valve seat being located adjacently at one side and a substantially in thesame plane of said'main valve and at a point substantially midway between parallel lines tangent to said main valve and lying in parallel relation to the pivot of said main valve.

3. In an alarm'check valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, the combination of a main check valve positioned in said casing, an auxiliary check valve alsojpositioned in said casing adjacent, at one side of, and substantially in the plane of said main check valve, a pivot shaft in said casing, an arm on said ,main valve and anarm on said auxiliary valve, said arms being independently and loosely mounted on said pivot ,shaftto have independent pivotal movement thereon, and means on said main check valve adapted to engage the arm of said auxiliary check valve for moving said arm upon movement of said main check valve. 7 V

4/In an alarm check valve comprising a casing having alined inlet and outletflpassages, the combination of a main check valve, an auxiliary check valve located to one side of said main check valve, a pivot shaft, arms connected to said main check valve and said pivot shaft, an arm connected to said auxiliary valve, overlying said main check valve and independently con nected to said pivot shaft, whereby the opening movement of said main check valve is imparted to said auxiliary check valve.

5. In an alarm check valve comprising a casing having alined inlet and outlet passages, the combination of a main check valve, an auxiliary check valve, a pivot shaft, spaced arms connected to said main check valve and said pivot shaft, an auxiliary arm located between said spaced arms with one end of said auxiliary arm pivotally connected to said pivot shaft and the other end thereof overlying the central portion of said main check valve, a laterally extending arm connected to the overlying end of said auxiliary arm with the free end of said laterally extending arm overhanging the periphery of said main check valve and means carried by said free end of said laterally extending arm adapted to open said auxiliary check valve upon a substantial opening of said main check valve.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of October, 1919.

LEROY M. LEWIS. 

